Engine timer construction



Jan. 21, 1941. 1. N. EusT'ls ETAL 2,229,282

ENQINE TIMER CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 27, 1959 Fatented Jan. 21, 1941UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENGINE TIMER CONSTRUCTION Irving N. Eustisand Neil J. McDonald, Fairmont,

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Application February 2'7, 1939, Serial No. 258,593

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in engine timer constructions andit consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

The timer construction with which the present invention is moreespecially concerned is of the kind which includes a resilientblade-like member that carries a contact point and which member isdirectly actuated by a wiper on the fly wheel of the associated engineso that its contact has a make and break engagement with a stationarycontact forming a part of the timer construction.

With the resilient contact carrying blade as heretofore employed, oneend was fixed and the other end was free to vibrate but such a blade hasa definite maximum speed after which it fluttered when actuated and thiswas detrimental to the contact points of the timer, requiring frequentcleaning, adjustment and other servicing.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide, in a timer ofthis kind, a simple and improved means for opposing fluttering of theblade at certain engine speeds so that the engine may be operated athigher speeds without a detrimental efiect upon the timer contactpoints.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timer construction ofthis kind in which it is practical to embody a timer condenser thereinas a part of the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and novelmounting for the stationary contact of the timer and whereby saidcontact is cushioned against the vibratory engagement blows of themovable contact so as to reduce wear between the two contacts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a timer construction whichmay be easily removed from and applied to the engine without requiringthe removal of the balance or fly wheel thereof.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide a timer constructionwherein the arc of contact between the vibrating blade and the fly wheeldriven blade actuator may be more easily adjusted without disturbing thesetting of the timer contact points.

Again it is a further object of the invention to provide a timer bracketthat may be so arranged on the crankshaft bearing of an engine that thetimed relation of the crankshaft and the timer contacts may be variedwithout altering the length of contact or the relation of the contactsto each other.

' The above mentioned objects of the invention,

as well as others, together with the advantages thereof will more fullyappear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an engine timer construction embodying thepreferred form of the invention in connection with related parts of theassociated engine.

Fig. 2 is a view of the same in side elevation, with parts shown inlongitudinal vertical section better to illustrate the structurethereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical detail sectional view as taken on the line 33 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of parts appearing in Fig. 2 and shows thepositions thereof when the contact points are engaged.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustratedin the drawing, 5 indicates a bearing boss for the crank shaft 6 of aninternal combustion engine and to which shaft is fixed the hub I of thebalance or fly wheel 8 of the engine.

I 9 indicates the frame of the timer as a whole and which frame is inthe form of a split collar comprising top and bottom substantiallysemicircular collar parts [0 and II adapted to surround or embrace thebearing boss 5 inwardly of the fly wheel.

The collar parts If) and H are provided with opposed cars 12 and I3respectively and bolts M are inserted through the ears of one collarpart to be threaded into the ears of the other collar part and wherebythe frame 9 as a whole is clamped in position on the boss 5. The topcollar part I6 is formed on one side of the center of the shaft 5 with alateral arm 15 and is formed on the other side of the center of theshaft with an upwardly and outwardly extending arm I5. A lateralextension H is pivotally connected to the arm I6 by a bolt I8. The arml5 which is apertured as shown for the attachment of a shift lever, isformed on that side facing the wheel 8 with a boss Ilia. By means ofsaid arm, the timer as a whole may be turned about the axis of thecrankshaft, so as to alter the time relation between the crankshaft andthe timer contacts without changing the relation of said timer contactsto each other.

l9 indicates a horizontally disposed member arranged with one end 213overhanging the extension !l and with the other end 2! overhanging theboss 55a. The end. 2| is formed with a shoulder 22 facing toward the end2% as best appears in Fig. 2.

23 indicates as a whole the movable contact carrier of the timer. Inthis instance, said carrier includes top and bottom spring fingers orblades 24 and 25 both engaged at one end between the extension I! andend 20 of member I9. A bolt 26 passes up through said parts from belowto receive a nut 21 at the top end, which extends through said end part20. Said nut and bolt secure a terminal clamp 28 in place. The blade 24is of such length that the extremity of its other end normally engagesthe shoulder 22 and in said end is an opening 24a as appears in Fig. 4.The bottom blade 25 which is shorter than the top blade, terminatesshort of said shoulder 22 as best appears in Fig. 2 and on the uppersurface of said end is fixed a contact 29 that projects up through theopening 24a in the blade 24.

30 indicates the stationary but adjustable contact of the timer adaptedfor a make and break engagement with contact 29. This contact is in theform of a screw that is carried by the member l9 in line with and abovethe contact 29. In this instance said screw has a cushioned insulatedengagement in the member l9 by reason of the following construction. Inthe member l9 coaxially with the contact 29 is a vertically arrangedopening 19a in which is engaged a rubber bushing 3! having inner andouter metallic sleeves 32-33, the outer sleeve having a snug fit in theopening l9a. This bushing structure is locked in place by a set screw 34carried by said member l9. The inner sleeve 32 is internally threadedfor screw threaded engagement by the contact 39 which is in the form ofa screw for this purpose. A fibre washer 35 is placed on the top end ofsaid bushing and a terminal connection 36 is placed on said contactabove the washer, after which a nut 37 is applied to the top end of thecontact 30 to clamp the terminal connection in place. This structure notonly provides an engagement for the contact screw 39 which cushions theengagement of the contact 29 therewith but it also insulates the contact39 from the member I9. In the bottom surface of the member l9 at a pointbetween its ends is a downwardly facing recess 38 in which a helicalexpansion spring 39 is engaged so that its bottom end bears against thetop surface of the top blade or finger 24.

The member I9 is formed toward the end 20 thereof with a cylindricalhousing 40 that is open at its ends. In said housing is located acondenser unit 4!. That end of said unit facing the terminal connection36 has one end of a conductor 42 connected thereto and the other end ofsaid conductor is connected to the contact 30 by reason of its beingclamped in between the washer 35 and terminal 36 by the nut 31. Thecondenser unit 4| is inserted into the housing 49 from the opposite endthereof and to secure the same against accidental dislodgment, a portion43 of a washer 44 arranged between the terminal connection 26 and theend 20 of the member I9 is bent upwardly to close the associated end ofthe housing 49.

The hub 1 of the wheel 8 carries a longitudinal bolt 45 and a contactwiper 46 is fixed to the inner end thereof. This member 46, which isherein shown as annular, is disposed in a recess in said hub so as to belocated in the plane of the vibrating blade or finger 23 as a Whole. Aportion of said contact wiper 46 projects beyond the periphery of thehub 1 so that in the rotation of the fiy wheel, said portion will engagethe blade or finger 23 with a wiping lifting action to actuate the same.Should that portion of the mem ber 46 that engages the blade or finger23 be come worn, the bolt 45 may be turned to brim a new portion of saidmember into operative rela tion with respect to said blade or finger.

The member l9 (and the parts carried thereby) is capable of a limitedrelative movemen' about the axis of the bolt H! for adjusting thposition of the vibrating blade or finger 23 witl. respect to the member42. The structure providing such movement is as follows, and which bestappears in Fig. 3. A bolt 41 extends through the end 2! of the member l9 and has a threaded engagement at its bottom end in the boss [5a. Onsaid bolt is placed a washer 48 which rests on the boss and a pin 49extends through the bolt below the washer which limits the position ofsaid washer in one direction on said bolt. An expansion coil spring 50surrounds that part of the bolt between the underside of the end 2| ofthe member l9 and the washer 48.

By turning the bolt 41 in one direction so as to compress the spring 50,the member I9 is swung clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, about the bolt l8as an axis and this moves the blade or finger 23 toward the hub 1. Byturning the bolt in the other direction, the spring 50 expands andswings the member I9 in the opposite direction so that the finger movesaway from the hub. Thus, by turning the bolt 41 in one direction or theother, it is possible to adjust relatively, the member 46 and the bladeor finger 23.

When the engine is in operation, the member 46 engages the blade orfinger 23 and flexes the two leaves 24-25 thereof upwardly to engage ithe contact 29 with the contact 30, thus closing a circuit to the sparkplug (not shown) of the engine. In this upward movement of the blades24-25, the spring 39 is placed under tension. As the upper blade 24 hasthe enlarged hole 24a in that end associated with the contact screw 30,said end can flex upwardly to partially surround the contact end of thescrew as best appears in Fig. 4. It is to be noted that the spring 39 isdisposed above but in the plane of the axis of the shaft 6. Thus, as thewiper member 46 passes through this plane, the spring 39 coacts with thenatural tendency of the blades, to return them to normal positionwherein the contact 29 is out of engagement with the contact 30 andwherein the free end of the blade 24 has engaged its stop shoulder 22 onthe member l9. Thus, the blade 24 functions to dampen the fluttering ofthe contact carrying blade 25 and this dampening action of the blade 24is assisted by the expansion action of the spring 39.

With the arrangement described, the contact carrying blade 25 mayberapidly flexed into contact engaging position with the contact 39 but sosoon as the member 45 passes through the plane of the shaft 6 and spring39, it cannot flutter under vibration because the fluttering action isprevented by the combined action of the blade 24 and the spring 39.Thus, high speed engine operation is greatly improved.

It is apparent that by reason of the cushion mounting of the contactmember 30, the mechanical wear between the two contact points ismaterially reduced so that the period of usefulness of said points isgreatly increased.

It is pointed out that in winter operation of the engine, it isnecessary to open the points 29-3ll considerably further than for summeroperation. However with the structure above described, it is possible toset the arc of contact so that the time of point closure is the same asfor summer operation. Thus, with the points set wide, the blows betweenthe points will be sufficient to break off such ice that forms on saidpoints and which would otherwise prevent the timer from operating.

The construction described provides for the complete adjustment of thelength or period of contact which remains constant for all speeds butcan easily be set to give optimum operation for all imposed conditionsand to compensate for wear of moving parts and contacts.

While in describing the invention we have referred in detail to theform, arrangement and construction of the parts, the same is to, beconing of said resilient means sidered only in the illustrative sense sothat we do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specificallyset forth in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. An engine timer embodying therein a bracket adapted to be secured toa crank shaft bearing of an engine, a relatively elongated supportingmember arranged transversely of the crankshaft, means for supportingsaid member at its end portions from and in spaced relation above saidbracket, a stationary contact carried by said supporting member andhaving a contact point disposed at the bottom side thereof, resilientvibratile means comprising a plurality of spring blades disposed betweensaid supporting member and said bracket, one of said blades being thelonger, one end of said blades being secured to one end of saidsupporting member, with the other end of the longer blade normallyengaged with a shoulder on the bottom of said supporting member, thelast mentioned end of said longer blade having an opening through whicha contact point on the other blade extends to have a make and breakengagement with the first mentioned contact point in the vibration ofsaid blades, and means carried by and depending from said supportingmember for engaging said resilient means at a point between said one endof said blades and said stationary contact for opposing the flutterinthe vibration there- 2. An engine timer embodying therein a bracketadapted to be secured to a crankshaft bearing of an engine, a relativelyelongated supporting member arranged transversely of the crank shaft,means for supporting said member at its end portions from and in spacedrelation above said bracket, a contact member, means carried by one endof said supporting member and in which said contact member is adjustablyengaged to space its point the desired distance below said elongatedmember and which means insulates said contact member from the supportingmember, resilient vibratile means comprising a plurality of springblades disposed in the space between said bracket and said supportingmember and below said contact point and secured at one end to the otherend of said supporting member and carrying a second contact point for amake and break engagement with the first mentioned one in the vibrationof said resilient vibratile means, and means arranged between saidresilient vibratile means and said supporting member between the endsthereof for opposing the fluttering of said resilient means in thevibration thereof.

3. An engine timer embodying therein a bracket adapted to be secured toa crankshaft bearing of an engine, a relatively elongated supportingmember arranged transversely of the crankshaft, an arm pivotally mountedon said bracket, means for fastening one end of said member to said armand whereby said member is capable of a limited rocking adjustablemovement on said bracket, means connecting the other end of saidsupporting member to said bracket and which means is operable to movesaid supporting member about the pivotal axis of said arm, a contactmember associated with the last mentioned end of said supporting memberwith a point disposed toward the bottom side of said member, a resilientvibratile means positioned between said bracket and said member andincluding a plurality of spring blades, one of which is shorter than theother and carries a contact point that extends through the longer one toengage the point of the first mentioned contact, one end of both bladesbeing clamped between said arm and the associated end of the supportingmember, a shoulder on the bottom portion of the supporting member withwhich the other end of the longer arm is normally engaged, and meanspositioned between the mid portions of said supporting member and saidspring blades for opposing the fluttering thereof in the vibration ofsaid blades.

4. An engine timer embodying therein an annular-like bracket adapted tobe clamped in embracing relation upon a crank-shaft bearing of an engineand to be adjusted into different angular positions thereon, arelatively elongated supporting member arranged transversely of saidcrankshaft, means for pivotally supporting one end of said supportingmember upon said member and in spaced relation above said bracket, meansfor connecting the other end of said supporting member to said bracketand which means is operable to move said supporting member about itspivotally supported means into different positions on said bracket, acontact member associated with the last mentioned end of said supportingmember and having a point disposed below the same, a resilient vibratilemeans positioned between said bracket and said supporting member andsecured at one end to the pivoted end of said supporting member, saidresilient vitratile means carrying a contact point towards its other endfor a make and break engagement with said first mentioned point, andmeans arranged between a mid portion of the bottom of said member andthe mid portion of the top of said resilient vibratile means foropposing the fluttering of said last mentioned means in the vibrationthereof.

IRVING N. EUSTIS. NEIL J. MCDONALD.

